Measuring chamber for metering fluids



Sept. 22, 1942. J. w. BAKER ETAL 2,296,491

'- MEASURING CHAMBER FOR METERING FLUIDS Filed July 8, 1940 Patented Sept. 22, 1942 MEASURING CHAM'BER FOR METERING FLUIDS Jerome W. Baker and Erle Ashley, Memphis,

Tenn., assignors to Claude M..McCord, Memphis, Tenn.

Application July 8, 1940, Serial No. 344,364

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in measuring chambers for metering fluids, and par ticularly relates to that type of measuring chambers which employ an oscillatable disc as a piston, and are commonly used in water meters.

Measuring chambers of this class employ a hollow casing having opposite spherically shaped seats forming a ball socket; and a disc having a complementary ball center which oscillates in the ball socket. This disc is provided with a roller protruding from one edge, which roller oscillates up and down in a channel in the casing and resists the tendency of the disc to turn in the casing. The casing is divided horizontally into complementary halves and the groove in which the roller oscillates is formed partially in each of the halves and crosses the joint therebetween at right angles. The groove primarily and the roller to a less extent are subject to wear and this wear is greatly accentuated in the halves at and adjacent to their juncture line, apparently because of the joint.

The objects of the present invention are:

To provide an auxiliary channel member which will line the groove, either as part of the original construction of the chamber, or as a replacement member for straightening up a worn groove, and which in either case will provide a continuous channel across the joint and will insure a smooth channel lining for guidance of the roller; and

To provide an auxiliary channel which will seat at its ends to prevent longitudinal displacement and will automatically compensate for minor differences in groove length.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the method of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation taken on the line II of Fig. 3, showing the auxiliary channel in place in the groove.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional elevation of a fragmentary portion of the casing showing the unlined groove.

Fig. 3 is plan View with the upper half of the casing removed, the auxiliary channel in place and in section, and the disc horizontally disposed.

Fig. 4 is a framentary sectional elevation taken as on the line IVIV of Fig. 2 showing an unlined and Worn groove; and

Fig. 5 a corresponding fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line VV of Fig. 1, showing the auxiliary channel in place in the groove. l I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the auxiliary channel member.

Referring now to the drawing in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

There is shown a usual type of measuring or metering chamber, comprising a hollow casing having complementary top and bottom halves l0 and H. The side walls of these halves are circular and inter-engage along a stepped circular joint l2. These halves have spherically shaped socket portions l3 and I4 adapted to receive the ball center [5 of an oscillatable disc It, the peripheral edge of this disc closely fitting the interior spherically shaped surface of the casing walls. Projecting beyond the peripheral edge of the disc is a roller I! having a radial shank l8 journalled in the disc. The side walls of the halves are provided with vertical grooves I9, 20, which aline at the joint l2 and form a continuous groove crossing the joint at right angles, the groove curving along the spherical surface of the walls, and at its opposite ends having recessed portions extending into the top and bottom walls of the casing.

The roller ll extends into the groove and is constrained by the side walls of the groove to oscillate along a vertical path, preventing rotary movement, or shifting of the disc about its axis.

25 is a channel shaped member, preferably made as by stamping from a strip of thin wear and rust resisting metal such as stainless steel, a thickness in the nature of twenty thousandths ordinarily being used. This channel has side walls 26, 21, and is curved to conform to the curvature of the grooves 19, 20 and adapted to line the sides of the groove and protect them against the side thrust of the roller [1. The side walls 26 and 21 preferably stop short of the overall length of the member 25, leaving projecting bendable tabs 28 at the opposite ends thereof, the member being desirably made of an overall length to contact the ends of the grooves I9 and 20, and even as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, to cause the tab portions 28 to curl or bend against the respective opposite ends of the grooves l9 and 20, on the solid closure of the joint I2, and in such case also tending to urge the web of the channel firmly against the bottom of the groove.

The sides of the casing grooves and the back of these grooves are subjected to constant Wear by the roller and this Wear eventually is so accentuated, particularly at the joint l2, as to cause extremely erratic movement of the disc or even temporary stoppage and serious inaccuracy in metering and this often long before meter failure from groove wear should normally be expected. Also the wear on the back of the groove not infrequently cuts this wall through, definitely at times locking the movement of the roller and disc. In such cases the insertion of a channel cures both side and back wear in the grooves.

The present device is applicable either to new construction or repair of used meters.

present and an auxiliary channel installed, a

In new construction the casing groove may be cut as at walls abutting along a joint, and grooved across slightly smaller roller being used, or the aux- I. iliary channel is made to fit the ordinary roller and the groove widened to take care of the channel wall thicknesses. Ordinarily in usual cases the depth of groove is sufficient without change.

In repair work the groove walls are dressed up to receive the channel, and the channel inserted, the channel flanges successfully spanning minor places of excessive groove wall wear.

Ordinarily the channel width over flanges is made of the original width of the groove and the groove only dressed sufiiciently to permit the channel insertion. In such cases, if necessary a new roller is inserted, but usually the old roller is merely dressed down slightly and put back in use.

We claim:

1. In a meter, employing a chamber comprising complementary halves having arcuate walls abutting along a joining surface and grooved transversely to said surface to form an arcuate raceway, and a roller movable along said raceway and guided by the walls thereof; a channel, particularly"characterized for correction of unequal wear of the roller on the walls of said raceway, especially at said joint, said channel being integrally formed of thin sheet metal and arcuately curved to conform to the curvature of said raceway, being adapted to be seated as a liner in said groove and to extend across the line of juncture of said halves, said metal thickness besaid joint, said groove having parallel side walls,

and recessed end portions establishing the overall length of said groove, and said meter employing a roller movable along said raceway and guided by the walls thereof; an auxiliary raceway particularly characterized for correction of unequal wear of the walls of said groove, especially at said joint, said raceway comprising a channel shaped member integrally formed of thin sheet metal and arcuately curved to conform to the curvature of said groove, being adapted to be disposed in said groove, and to span said wall joint, said metal being of definitely restricted thickness to minimize groove dressing for its reception and roller size reduction for use therein, said raceway having parallel flanges substantially co-extensive with the length of said groove walls, and a web portion maintaining parallelism of said flanges and adapted to prevent deflection of said flanges spanning points of groove wear, said web having portions extending oppositely beyond the ends of said flanges to form a member of greater length than the overall length of said groove, said integral web! portions being inherently adapted to bend against the ends of said groove to conform said channel to groove length and limit movement of said channel member.

JEROME W. BAKER. ERLE C. ASHLEY. 

